Anti Pyretic Activity Of Aristolochia Bracteata

Abstract

Pet ether and acetone extracts of the plant Aristolochia Bracteata were prepared using Soxlet extraction. phytochemical analysis of Aristolochia Bracteata showed the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, flavones, triterpenoids and phytosterols in the crude extracts. In the present study, Pet.ether and acetone extracts of Aristolochia Bracteata was investigated for their anti pyretic activity. Injection of 20 ml/kg (s.c) of 20% aqueous suspension of Brewer’s yeast suspension produced pyrexia in rats. Extracts at 250 mg/kg exhibited significant anti pyretic activity. Aspirin (300mg/kg) was included as standard. Pet. Ether extracts was found to be more effective than acetone extract. INTRODUCTION Aristolochia bracteata Linn. (Aaduthinnapalai – Tamil; Worm killer English; Gadaparku – Telugu; BhringiHindi), is a shrub distributed through out India. It belongs to the family Aristolochiaceae. In the indigenous system of medicine, the plant was used for the treatment of skin diseases, inflammation and purgative1,2. Root extract was reported to have anti bacterial activity 3 and also Toxicity of Aristolochia bracteata was reported 4.The present study was aimed to evaluate antipyretic efficacy of Acetone and Pet.ether extract of Aristolochia bracteata. MATERIALS AND METHODS PLANT COLLECTION AND AUTHENTICATION The plant material was collected in the Tirunelveli district, Tamilnadu, India. It was authenticated by Dr.V.Chelladurai, Govt. Research officer, Botany C.C.R.A.S. Govt. of India, (Retired), Tirunelveli. A voucher specimen has been kept in our laboratory for future reference PREPARATION OF EXTRACT Aristolochia bracteata was collected dried under shade, coarsely powdered and passed through sieve no.22 to get particle of uniform size. Then extracted exhaustively with Pet. Ether and Acetone using Soxhlet apparatus5 . The solvent was removed under reduced pressure to obtain a solid mass. It was then preserved in a desiccators until further use. ANIMALS Male Wister Albino rats (100-150gm) were procured form animal house of our institute, maintained under room temperature (20±10C) and relative humidity 55±10Cwith 12 h light / dark cycle. The animals were provided with standard pellet diet (M/s Hindustan Lever Ltd, Mumbai, India.) with free access to water adlibidum. The present study was approved by institutional animal ethics committee (Approval no. 509/02/C/CPCSEA). ANTIPYRETIC ACTIVITY The antipyretic activity of Pet.etheric and Acetone extracts were screened by using yeast-induced hyperpyrexia method6,7. The selected animals were divided into four groups, each having six animals. They were maintained at constant temperature of 24-25° for 24 h before pyrexia was induced by subcutaneous injection of 1 ml of 15% brewer’s yeast suspension in saline solution10. After 18 h of yeast injection, the extracts at a dose of 250 mg/kg were administered orally to each group as a suspension in tween 80. Paracetamol i.p. (200 mg/kg) was used as standard for comparison of antipyretic activity, and all control animals received tween 80. Rectal temperatures were noted at 60 min intervals.